Skin-measuring machine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(Model.)

0. G. WINTER. SKIN MEASURING MACHINE.

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Patented July 24, 41883.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(ModeL) 0.. GQ WINTER.

SKIN MEASURING MACHINE.

No. 281,745. Patented July 24, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

CHARLES G. IVINTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKIN-MEASURING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,745, dated July 24, 1883 Application filed April 12, 1883.

To all whom it may concern/.-

ModelJ From this construction it will be evident that Be it known that I, CHARLES G. WINTER, of none of the pins can swing out of their proper Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Measuring the Areas of Skins, Leather, and other Articles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates more especially to that class of measuring-machines in which a pivoted lever-frame is employed for supporting or carrying the system of weights.

The invention consists in certain specialties of construction,which will plainly appear from the following description.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section, of a machine serving toillustrate my invention. Fig. 3 is a plan of the intermediate lever-frame, and Fig. 4 a detail for fuller illustration of my novel system of weights of graduated lengths and graduated weight.

Between the stationary skeleton or slatted bed A, on the slats a of which the skin or other article to be measured is placed, and the pivoted scale-beam B, upon which the system of weights is hung, I place an intermediate lever-frame, O, hinged, pivoted, or journaled upon the frame-work of the machine at its rear. This frame 0 is provided with cross slats, bars, or equivalents, constituting a bed, having numerous holes or openings therein corresponding to the number of pins or weights hanging from the scale-beam B, and so that each pin or weight may hang in part within one of the holes, and thus be prevented from slipping from its proper place. The front of this frame 0 is flexibly connected by a cord or chain, c, to the front of the scale-beam B, the cord or chain being so applied or adjusted that when the beam B'shall be raised at its front end sufficiently to bring this cord or chain to a taut condition it will then lift the frame 0, while the ends of the weights D are all within their respective holes 0 in this frame.

by its own respective hole 6, there is a uniformity and steadiness in their action, so that the indications on the dial or index face employed in this class of machines are prompt and accurate.

The cross slats or bars F extend across the machine, and when their frame 0 is at its lowest position they rest upon any skin, hide, leather, or article placed on the bed A for measurement, and flatten or press it out more smoothly, thus facilitating the greater accuracy of measurement. This frame O thus performs the several important duties of controlling and guiding the pins or weights, of assisting in pulling down by its own weight the scale-beam B, of preventing the pins or weights getting out of their guide-holes when the beam B and frame 0 are lifted, and of pressing and smoothing out skin, &c., under measurement. Each of the frames or beams B and C is weighted as needed at its rear end, as shown at b and 0', respectively. The preponderance of weight of the hinged or journaled frame C should be at its front end, in order that when free to fall it may press upon the skin, and its slats should be of sufficient breadth to do good service as flatteners or smoothers; but when both leverframes are raised to introduce or to remove a skin they should be automatically held up by the weight b onthe scalebeam B, which should be so fixed or adjusted that it will permit the beam to remain either up or down, and to be readily swung either way by a slight touch. To insure this the legs or supports m, which are fixed to and hold up the scale-beam B, rest at their pivotal points a on the bed A, or on uprights thereon. By this means the center of gravity of this beam, when properly raised, is thrown backward of such pivotal points far enough to automatically keep it up till again pulled down. The side bars, G, of the scalebeam sustain the slats h, which hold the resp ective rows of pins or weights D, these slats being preferably mortised in such side bars at about equal distances apart. As the pins in the rows which are nearest the fulcrum-points of this beam B should be of greater weight than the more distant ones, those in each roware made lighter than those in the row next behind them, and proportionately to their distance from the fulcra. The slats h are therefore graduated as to position at such relative heights or distances from a given horizontal plane when the beam hangs level or in equilibrio as the lengths of the pins may require, their lengths being determined by their weight and by the gage of wire from which they are made, the lower ends of the pins reaching down, as they should, all to substantially the same plane or level. By this arrangement the entire pin mechanism of the machine can be made so light that several of the forward rows of pins may be made from No. 20 spring brass wire, and so that they may spring away alittle or yield, instead of binding and making friction, and thus they contribute to make a perfectly satisfactory machine. The slats h are mortised into the side bars, G, of beam B, and severally at such height from the lower level or plane of these arms or bars G as the length of the pins of each number or gage of wire shall require, so that the lower ends of all the pins employed shall be on or about the same horizontal plane.

It will be observed that to make every pin the same length, and yet vary in weight, wire would have to be made finer than any gage or number at present permits; but with my improved system, suppose I commence by using in the front row, or farthest away from the fulcra, No. 20 gage wire, and that this grade of wire affords the proper length and weight of pins for this row. Then for the next row to the rear the pins are made of the same gage of wire, but a trifle longer, to suit the required increased weight, which, of course, is determined by its lesser or greater proximity to the fulcra. I continue thus to make the pins for a limited number of the successive rowsas, for instance, those indicated at 1 2 3 4, &c., in Fig.

4of successive]y-increased lengths for each row in succession, but still from the same gage or number of wire, the increase of length giving the requisite increase of weight; and I continue this until I find I can get from the next and heavier number or gage of wire a pin, a of the desired weight, but of only the same length as those in the front row, 1, of pins. I then follow the same plan or method with this gagesay No. 19of wire, making the pins for each successive row I) 0 (P, 820., of gradually-increased lengths, but from this same gage of wire, until I am able to commence with pins of the'next gage of wire-say No. 18and the same lengths as those in the front row. I proceed in the same manner with each heavier gage of wire until the rows reach such proximity to the fulcra as to allow sufficient room for introducing the skins or articles to be measured, when the tables are tipped up and back; and for this purpose I find that about eight inches is a desirable distance from the fulcra or line of the pivotal points to their nearest or heaviest row of pins or weights.

It will be seen that one gage of wire could be used for all the rows; but in such case the rearmost row would consist of pins of great length in large machinessay, for whole hides, with a pin mechanism covering ten by ten feet, or one hundred square feet, and in which the rear pins would be about sixteen (16) times as long as the front ones, so that if the front ones were each six (6) inches long the rearmost ones, if made of the same gage of wire, would be nine ty-six inches or eight feet long, which in prac tice would be objectionable.

It will of course be understood that there may be as many rows of pins, and that the pins may be as near together and as many in each row, as desired, dependent on the size and character of the machine.

A spring-balance or other indicator should be used to indicate the area or surface measured, but I do not claim these in this invention, and they need not therefore be illustrated.

The indicating apparatus may be applied to the bracket I and actuated by means of the scale-beam B, through the instrumentality of the chain and coiled spring Z, on the principle shown in the Patent No. 215,853, dated May 27, 1879, granted to David T. XVinter.

It will also be seen that a system of pins can be made of equal length, and yet graduated to proper weight by working off the thickness of wire, instead of by diminishing its length but such a mode would not admit of such accuracy, as by using carefully-made and previouslygaged wire, pins can be made or worked off to the one-hundredth part of a grain, (as I find in practice.)

I claim 1. In a machine for measuring the area or surfaces of skins and other articles, the combination, with a lever-frame carrying a system of pins or weights, of a lever-frame beneath the same and arranged to be lifted there by, and having perforations or openings therein, serving to keep the pins in proper positions, the combination being substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination, a weighted-lever scalebeam, a stationary skeleton table, and an intermediate lever-frame serving as a flattener of the skins or articles under measurement.

3. In a machine for measuring skins, leather, &c., a system of pins of varying weights and varying lengths, according to the gage of wire from which they are made, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l. In a machine for measuring skins, leather, 850., a pivoted, journaled, or hinged flattener, serving also to prevent the displacement of the pins or weights.

5.. In combination, the two tables or frames B and 0, one hinged, pivoted, or journaled, and the other pivoted, flexibly connected to each other at their forward ends, the under one, 0, being so weighted that when the upper one is raised the flexible connection shall tighten and lift the under one, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The Weighted scale beam constructed with a series of pin or weight supporting slats placed successively at varying and at graduated heights, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7 I11 combination, a stationary slatted or skeleton table for supporting the article to be 

